Electrically-operated track switch



Aril20 1926.

S- S. $TOLP :EIJECTRICALIIJY OPERATED TRACK SWITCH Filed Sept. 23, v1925 Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

SAMUEL S. STOLP, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

ELECTRIGALLY-OPEBATED TRACK SWITCH.

Application filed September T all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. SToLr a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Operated Track Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical systems and particularly to that class of systems adapted to automatically osition the track switch from a moving vehicle so that the vehicle will be switched in a predetermined direction at the will of the operator of the vehicle. This application is a continuation, in part, of my copending application Serial No. 672,745, filed November 5, 1923.

One object of my invention is .to produce a system as simple as possible to selectively operate the track switch.

Another object of my invention is to prevent the application of current to certain operating parts beyond a predetermined time so as to avoid injury to such parts, as by the burning out of said parts.

Another object of my invention is to permit of the application of the operating current to certain parts for a sufficient time to operate the same, as for instance, a sufiicient time to fully saturate certain solenoids or other electrical means, as for instance, an electric motor, which moves the track Switch.

Still another object of my invention is to prevent operation of the switch, after a predetermined time, by the vehicle first operating it, that is, after the device has been operated to the proper position and after the saturation of certain parts has been accomplished. I 1

Still another object of my invention is to allow a plurality of vehicles to pass apredetermined pointwithout changing the position of the switch from that set by the leading vehicle and before the leading vehicle has passed the switch. 7

The system is so arranged that it may be operated by the motorman when he reaches a certain predetermined point by placing his controller in either an on or an off pOSltion, depending upon the direction in which he wishes to operate the track switch. In a device of this class it is usual to so arrange the operating parts that the track switch will be movedinto a straight position if the car passes the predetermined point with the 23, 1925. Serial No. 58,036..

7 controller in the ofP position, or,.as it is usually stated, in the poweroff position. If the vehicle passes theQpredetermined point with the controller in the, on position, that is, poweron the track switchwill be positioned to carry the vehicle around a curve. The predetermined point referred to is that point where an overhead contactor or contact pan is positioned in advance of the track switch and which is engaged by the current collector on the vehicle. A

Further objects and advantages of my invention will disclose themselves to those skilled in the art as the further description of my invention proceeds, and when read in ingthis specification. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing those parts and circuits only of an electrically operated vehicle which affect the track throwing system herein described, or by means of which the track throwing system maybe operated.

Fig. 2 shows the relation of the current collector to the, overhead contact pan or device and to the trolley wire as the current collector of the moving vehicle passes the contact pan. p

In Fig. 3 I have shown a diagrammatic arrangement of various parts and circuits which compose my invention, but does notshow the detailed construction of the various parts as such construction may be quite varied and still operate in the system successfully. Y Y

In the system which I have disclosed in Fig. 3, I employ a contact pan P provided with two parallel contact members 1 and 2 which are spaced apart and normally insulated fro-m each other. The contact pan is mounted upon the trolley wire 3 with the, members 1 and 2 spaced therefrom. The members 1 and 2 are so positioned with respect to the trolley wire 3, which is usually continuous, as indicated by the dotted line, that they are insulated from the trolley wire and will prevent the engagement of the current collector W from engaging with the trolley wire 3 while the current collector is 111 engagementwithfthe members 1 and 2 (see Fig. 2); The construction andarrangement of the contact pan P is the same or I similar to that ofthe contact pan P. I

Connected to the trolley wire and to the 70 conjunction with the drawings accompany contact member 2 is a coil 4 of an electrically operated switch S. The winding on rent from the members 1 and Q'through the vehicle to the ground, as for instance, one is through the heater elements H, another is through the lhght circuit L, another is through the air compressorcircuit A, an-

other is through the operating motor M under the control of the motorman through the medium of the controller C. At certain times the elements H, L and A are always in circuit between the current collector V and the ground G and the current will then be flowing through these elements, and as they are usually in parallel the current supplying them is accumulative and maybe of considerable value.' The current flowingthrough the motor M is always under control of the motorman through the medium of the" controller G, that is, he is always in aposition to permit or prevent at will current flowing through the motor M which operates the vehicle. This current is usually of very high value as compared with the current which may flow through the elements H, L, A, etc.

In designing the winding of the coil 4,

the tact must be taken into consideration that there may be at all times current flowing through the elements H, L and A and, therefore, the winding 4 must be so designed that the switch-arm 5 will not be operated by the energizing of the coil 4 except when themotorman applies current to the motor It will be notedthatthere is one or more paths by which the current from the trolley wiremay flow to ground by way of the vehicle. It now the current collector XV engages the members 1ja-nd2 and the circuits are complete through the members H, L and A, but the controller G is in the power off position, current will then flow from the trolley wire 3 through the conductors 6 and 7 the coil 4, the conductors 8 and 9, the member 2, the collector WV, trolley pole T and members H, L and A to' the ground G. r

Should the coil 4 not be wound properly the current flowing would cause the switcharm 5 to be raised, which is notdesired with power oii operation; If, while the cola lectorlV is engaging themembers 1 and 2' and the members H, Land A are switched off and the motorinan should operate his controller to the power on position, current would then flow from the trolley wire 3 through the elements 6, 7, 4, 8, 9, 2, \V, T, C and M 'to ground. Ifthe coil 4 is properly designed this current will be sufiicient to operate the switch-arm 5, a condition,which is desired, with power on operation. From this it will be seen that the switch-arm 5 is operated only when the controller C is in the power on position. When the collector VVengages themeinbers 1 and 2 these members will be short circuited or electrically connected by the collector V and the memher 1 will then be connected to the trolley wire through the elements \V, 2, 9,8, 4,7 and 6. c 7 o To operate the switch-tongue 10 I employ two solenoids 11 and 22, each having one terminal connected to the ground G and the other terminal connected to one of the contacts 13 and 14 of the selector switch bl. The solenoid12 is connected to the contact 13 by the conductor 15 and the solenoid'll is connected to the contact 14 tlirouglrthe conductors lti'a'nd 17 and the norn'iallyclosed switch arm '18.- The solenoids 11 and 12 are provided with a common reciprocating plunger-'49 which in turn is connected by proper mechanism to the switch-tongue 10 and constitutes a reciprocating motor so that when the solenoid 11 is energized the tongue 10 will be thrown to the straight ahead position', as shown n the drawing, and "when the solenoid 12 is energized the switch tongue will be thrown to the curve shown by the dottedlines. 4

The switch-arn'i 5 isconnected to the inemher 1 by means of the-conductor .ZO and is position, as

normally infengagementwith the contact 14 which'is connected to the coilll. Therefore, whenever the member 1 is'energized by the short circuiting of the members 1 and 2 by the collector V andthe niotorman simultaneously moves his controller C to the power off position, the coil 11 will be 'energized and move the switch-tongue 'to the straight aheadposition; In order to 1113111 tainthe-switch-arm18 in a normally closed relation with the contact 21 bet-ween periods of'o peration by moving vehicles, I employ an operating magnet B which is provided with a core and with two coils 40 and 41. One terminal of the 501140 is connected to the conductor 7 by means of theconductor 42 and the other end of the coil 40 is connectedto the ground. through the'conductors is, 5,14,17,21, 18, 16,11and2'i'. It :will'be scenthat the coil 40 is normally connectedbetween the trolley wire and the ground G and the current will flow there- I throughat all times that the switch 18 engages the contact 21and will maintain the switch-arm 18 normally .in engagement with the-contact 21. Thecoil 41 is connected to the contact 44 of the panP through the conductor; 4'? and to the ground through the conductors 48, 16', 11 and 27, and it will be noted that unless the members 44 and 45 are connected together, as for instance, by the moving current collector W, that no current:

will flow through the coil 41 and, therefore,

the coil 41 will have no influence upon the switch arm 18unless'the contacts 44 and 45 are connected.

, It will be noted thatgvhen the system is in its normally set position for operation that one terminal of the coil 40 is connected to the contact 1 through the elements 43 and 20 and the other terminal is connected to the contact 2 through the elements 42, '7,

4, 8 and 9, and that whenever the current collector 1V engages the contacts 1 and 2- that the terminals ofthe coil 40 will be short circuited as the resistance of the coil 40 is quite highso as topermit only a very small current to flow therethrough and the resistance of the coil 4 is very low. Therefore, whenever a vehicle passes the pan and a the collector W engages the contacts 1 and 2 of the pan 'P and'the'controller is inthe' power on or power oft position that the coil 40 will be short circuited and hence the switch B will be jde-energizcd and the switch-arm 18 opens and-will drop out of engagement with the contact 21, but the conducting member 30 of the switoh-arm 18will engage and electrically connect the contacts 32 and 33 and the system is rendered inoperative as to further change to the switch tongue either by the first vehicle or by a vehicle following. ,The switch B will re main open with relation to the contact 21 during the time that the collector engages the pan P, but it will not drop out of engagement with the contact 21 for a'predetermined time after the collector engages the pan for the reason that the switch B is provided with a time element or lag theieby preventing the opening of the switch B for a time after the collector engages the pan P, and hence if. the engagement is with the controller set at power oil? the current will flow from the conductor 3 through the elements 6, 7, 4, .8, 9, 2, W, 1, 20, 5, 14, 17, 21, 18,16, 11 and 27 to ground and the switch-tongue 10 will be operated to the straight ahead position if it is set to the curve position, butthis current ceases to flow as soon as the switch-arm 18 drops.

Lag in the operation of the switch B may be secured by the use of the heavy copper collar 29 as is well known to those skilled in the art.

If the collector engages the .pan P with power oncurrent will flow from the 0011- ductor 3 through the elements 6,7, 4, 8, 9, W; C and M to ground and in this case the coil 4 will be energized, the arm -5 moved into engagementwith the contact 13 and then current will flow from the conductor 3 through the elements 6, 7, 4, 8, 9, W, 1,

20, 5, 13, 15, 12 and 27 to ground thereby energizing the coil 12 and movingthe switch tongue 10 to its curved position. The short circuiting oftheelements 1 and 2 of the pan Pby the collector W will short circuit, thecoil 40 as already explained, and the contact arm'18 will drop out of engagement with the .contact 21 and into engagement with the contacts 32 and 33.

"VVhene-ver the conducting member 30 of the arm 18, andwhich are insulated from .eachother, engages with the contacts 32 and until the arm 18 has been placed in its normal position in contact with'the member 21 for the reason that when the arm 18 has dropped the circuit leading to thef-coilll has been opened at 21 and the coil 4 has been short circuited at the contacts 32 and 33 thereby making it impossible toenergize the coil '4 tojpick up the arm 5 and the circuit leading to the coil 12 will remain open, therefore, it will be apparent that a vehicle having once positioned the switch 10 by passing the pan P with power on?- or power oil that a car following immedlately cannot change the set-ting of the switch tongue 10.

In order to reset the system to normal so that it is possible for a car tollowingthe first car to operate theswitch I provide the second pan positioned at a point sulilciently beyond the 'switchtongu'e 10 such that the vehiclewill have passed the switch tongue 10 before'its collector will engage the pan P after which it makes no difference how soon the following car may pass the pan P.

f Through the medium of the pan P 1- pro vide means for resetting the switch B to normal which comprises thecoil 41' with its leads 47 and 48 and the connection 46 between the trolley conductor 3 and the con tact 45. It will ,be evident that when a collector engages the pan P that current will flow from the conductor 3 through the elements'46, 45, W, 44, 47, 41', 48, 16, 11 and 27 to ground thereby energizing the coil 41, then causmg it to pick up the arm 18 and into engagement with the contact 21 thereby re-establishing the flow of current through the -coil"40. As soon as the collector VV- leaves the pan P the coil 41 will be deenergized, but the coil'40 will ren'iain energizedand'holding the arm 18' in normalposition in engagement with the contact 21 and'the system will be ready for operation by a car following;

:The winding of the coils 40 and 41- issufli-s cientlyuhigh in ohmic resistance to allow in a box upon thepole adjacent to the track switch operating means which is located 1n the ground adjacent the switch tongue 10 and connections lead out from the box to the: trolley wire or pans and to the track switch.

It the speed of the vehicle is slow enough and the length of the switch pan P 1s great enough suchithat the arm 18 will drop-be-i fore the vehicle has passed thepan and the motorman crosses therpan with power on the swltch arm Wlll first open the circuit .to

the coil 11 and" then short circuit the coil 4 and force the arm 5 to drop, but the track switch tongue will not be changed from the curved position. 1

If the motorman should intend to crossthe.

pan P with current oflf, but should, come to rest with 1 580011801101 engaging the panP,

it is quite evident that unle'ssthere issome' means of rendering the coil 4' inoperative that when the motorman starts his car a heavy rush of current would energize the coil 4 picking up the armo and setting the.

switch tongue 10 to the wrong position, but this difiiculty is overcome by the short circuiting action of the contact 30 when it engages the contacts 32 and 33 which it does after the collector has engagedthe pan for a predetermined length of time suflicient to assure the energizing of the coil 11. The openingof the arm 18 under such conditions also avoids the continued flow of current through the coil 11 and, therefore, it is possible to wind-the coil, 11with ahigher degree of saturation without the fear of its being burned out from prolonged application of the current. i g g i There is a remote possibility of the motor man coming to rest with the collector engaging the pan P if he first engages itwith the intention to take the curve, as he will;

then engage the pan with rpower, on and he'is not likely to stop withthe collector in contact with the pan. I-Iowever,should this occur, the'arm 18 will drop after the predetermined time has elapsed, the relay opening the circuit to the solenoid coil 11 and short circuiting the coilq l, hence forcing the arm 5 to drop so that further operation" of the switch tongue will be prevented while the collector engagesthe-pan P. g 3 There are, of course, modifications which may be made from the disclosure herein givenwhich willstillbe within the scope of my invention, as for instance, a rotary motor may be employed to operate the tongue-10 in place of the reciprocating motor shown, and other changes will'suggest themselves to those skilledin the art.

inoperative during the of saidswitchp o 2. Ina switch operating system, the com-- bination of an electrically operated switch I-claimzr I :1. In a'switch operating system, the com-; bination of an electrically operated switch throwing device and circuits thereto, an'electrically operated selector switch therein to.

control the flowof current through difi'erent ,parts of the switch throwing device, atn electrically operatedswitch to open and, close one of the circuits =when thesystem is in use so that a current .collectorywill first open said electrically operated switch and short circuit the selector switchand willr later close the electricallyoperated switch wherebythe system willbe rendered throwing device, two contact pans v to be engaged by a current collector; and-circuits leading thereto, an, electrically [operated selector switch for controlling the flow .of current through difierentparts of the switch throwing device, electrically. operated means foropeningand closing one ,of'the circuits A I to the switch throwing device when the system 21s in use, circuits leading to the electrically operated means such that ,the collector will first open said means and short circuit the selector switch after a v predetermined time the collector engages: o11e;pan and close the said meanswhen the collector engages the other pan,

. 3. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electrically operated track switcln-a selector switchato direct current to difi'erent parts otthe track switch, a con tact panto be engagedby a current collector,

a divided circuitmfrom thecontact pan to the track switch with the selector switch interposed in onepart of the-circuit, airelecg trically' operated switch interposed, in a part of, the circu1t,v connect1ons from the pan.

to ,the electrically operated switch I and ar rangedto, open after a predetcrmined time -after,,the pan, iswengaged byz the collector and short circuitthe selector switcl 1, fia second pan tonbecengaged by the collector,

connections to the second pan toi the elec-v trically' operated switch to, close the same when the collector engages said second pan.

,4:. .A. switching mechanism comprising in combination, a trolley wi r-e, a.contact pan, an ,"electrically operated switch throwing de-. vice f operated at will of the; operator on a moving car, a. selector switch operated automatically by, energizing 7 its operating coil during fjthe movement of the, cantor transmitting curre11t from the trolley wire to the switch throwing device to operate the device in the proper direction, means to render the selector switch inoperative by shunting. its operating coil-after aprede; termined time t to prevent transmitting cur: rent to the switch throwing device and means opening andqclosing,

tem to normal after the car has moved a' predetermined distance beyond the track switch. V

5. A track switch operating mechanism comprising means controlled by the operator of a moving vehicle to move the switch to a desired position, shunting means beyond the control of the operator to shunt the first said means to render the system inoperative either by the operator of the vehicle or the operator of a following car and means operated by the first vehicle to remove the shunt and return the system to normal after it has passed a predetermined point.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SAMUEL S. STOLP. 

